City's green plan continues Updated

Mayor Victor Fedeli and Engineering & Public Works Chair, Councillor Judy Koziol, takes delivery of the City's first Hybrid vehicle. The battery-powered car will get twice the mileage within the city. Both driving using the gas engine and braking will recharge the batteries. This is another initiative of the City's Green Plan. Photo provide

Mayor Vic Fedeli rung in the new year with a speech congratulating the City on a job well-done for 2008 and looking toward an even brighter future for 2009.

“We hit on all cylinders this year,” Fedeli said.

Construction

Construction was booming for 2008. In his speech Fedeli said that this past year the city saw $84.4 million in building permits compared to the $77.6 million in 2007.

“We are forecasting a very robust construction year,” he said.

Fedeli went on to say that the City has set aside money in their $50 million dollar budget to re-pave the 10, 000 foot runway at the airport which was a hot topic in this past federal election.

Fedeli also addressed the challenge of funding from the provincial government for 2009.

“The result of the two year long Provincial review saw uploading in social programs across Ontario, but a claw back of Provincial payments,” Fedeli said in his speech.

Despite the cut back from the federal government North Bay was still able to thrive.

“The Ontario upload was a great thing. The fact is they clawed back,” Fedeli said.

“There was no claw back in Southern Ontario; there were $100 million in gains in Toronto and Mississauga,” he added.

With the monies made in Southern Ontario the Province believes there work is done but Northern Ontario has no money Fedeli explained. He added that the Northern Ontario communities are banding together to see if this issue can be resolved.

Although funding hasn’t been coming by way of the Provincial government, North Bay has been finding ways to save money through the implementation of the new green plan.

“North Bay has been the leader of environmental programs,” Fedeli said.

Solar panels have been mounted on a side roof along McIntyre Street, which is generating electricity, off-peak-hour electricity has been purchased for the streetlights, which has seen a $50,000 savings, and the blue box program has expanded to include more recyclables. Hybrid vehicles have been delivered into the area to help reach and maintain a greener city.